Celebrating Success: Aimee Besant Wins the 2024 Ian Bonnon Award
Honouring a Legacy: The Ian Bonnon Award
Each year, the Ian Bonnon Award stands as a testament to OWC’s dedication to nurturing emerging engineering talent. Created by OWC’s founder, the late Ian Bonnon and hosted by Melanie O’Brien and the Ian Bonnon family, the award recognises individuals who exemplify Ian’s values of leadership, innovation, and mentorship.
This year’s ceremony was opened by Zheming Li, Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, who shared heartfelt reflections on Ian’s enduring legacy. Zheming praised Ian’s ability to inspire those around him and highlighted how his vision continues to shape OWC’s inclusive and collaborative culture across the globe.
Recognising Excellence: Aimee Besant’s Achievement
The 2024 award was presented by Ali Bonnon, Ian’s daughter, who was thrilled to name Aimee Besant, Head of Energy Storage, as this year’s winner.
Ali reflected on the exceptional calibre of all the nominees, noting how challenging it was to select a winner. However, Aimee’s remarkable leadership, her ability to scale OWC’s fastest-growing service area, and her contributions to the renewable energy sector made her a standout candidate.
Ali remarked that her father would have been “proud and perhaps a little envious” of Aimee’s achievements—a nod to Ian’s competitive spirit.
Aimee’s Speech: Gratitude and Collaboration
In her acceptance speech, Aimee expressed her gratitude to her colleagues, mentors, and the wider OWC team for their support, which has been integral to her success. She said:
“Although I never had the chance to meet Ian, I’ve heard so much about him and his incredible legacy. It’s clear that his values are woven into OWC’s DNA, creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and mentorship. These values inspire me every day. I want to thank my team, my mentors, and everyone who believed in the Energy Storage service line—this award is a shared achievement.”
Aimee also acknowledged Will Cleverly, CEO, OWC and Richard Abrams, Executive Director of Onshore Renewables, for entrusting her with the Energy Storage service line he once led, humouring the audience by saying, “Rich’s little baby is now one I’ve had the privilege of mothering into what it is today.”
Honouring Both Ian and Elaine Bonnon
During the ceremony, Ali announced a significant change for next year: from 2025, the award will be renamed the Ian & Elaine Bonnon Award, in memory of her late mother, Elaine Bonnon. Ali shared how her parents’ partnership played a pivotal role in OWC’s founding and growth, with Elaine’s entrepreneurial drive inspiring Ian to establish the company.
Aimee’s Achievement: A Source of Inspiration
Aimee’s award win is not just a recognition of her professional accomplishments but also her ability to lead with integrity, foster innovation, and elevate her team. Her achievement exemplifies the values that Ian Bonnon championed throughout his career.
As OWC reflects on the successes of the past year, Aimee’s story reminds us of the importance of mentorship, teamwork, and a shared vision in advancing the renewable energy sector.
Congratulations, Aimee, on this well-deserved honour!
Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees, whose contributions to OWC are highly appreciated. We can’t wait to see what great achievements the team bring to next year’s awards.
Explore previous winners of The Ian Bonnon Award: